Second Best

What may have rated as an average first date for most was a turn into uncharted waters for Kailin. She took another sip of wine, her eyes darting between the dark, rich brown of Amandi’s eyes and the near-black red of her wine. A small frown played at the corner of her lips.

Amandi reached across the table and took her slender, pale hand in his own; his deep brown skin contrasting starkly with her pink-tinged fingers. “You’re thinking something. Just say it. I wasn’t lying when I said I wanted to get to know you.”

“I have a history with dating,” she said, “and it’s not a good one. I have this thing for bad boys and girls, outlaws and rebels. It never works out, though.”

“And you think that I...?”

Kailin shook her head. “No. I get the feeling that you could be dangerous if you chose, but you’re honestly the sweetest person I’ve ever gone out with. It makes it hard to figure out if I’m interested because you’re sweet, or because you push that button.”

“The dangerous button?”

“Yeah.”

#

They walked through the rooftop garden, a hundred stories above the world below. The last rays of the sunset made the tall glassteel safety walls glow orange along their tops. Their fingers interwoven, they watched the sunset as the first of the moons rose.

“You’re a pretty good judge of character,” Amandi said. “I try to be a good person, but I’ve done some things in the past.”

“And now you tell me you’re a fugitive and you’re going to use me as a hostage to escape, right?”

“What?” Amandi turned Kailin to face him. “Is that something that actually happened, or do you have a dark imagination?”

“I told you that it never works out.”

“Tell me who did that and I’ll make him pay for it.”

“No worry, she’s already in prison.”

He pulled her into a warm embrace. “I wouldn’t do that to anyone, you don’t have to worry.”

Kailin sighed, and Amandi stepped back. “I—I’m sorry,” he said, “that was probably a bit too much.”

“It wasn’t.” Kailin stepped closer to him and put her arms around his waist. “I liked it.”

Their meandering took them through the ornamental gardens into the vegetable patch. The square kilometer footprint of the block building made the rooftop garden into a veritable park. It was still early in the season, so the only things ready to pick were the lettuce greens and spring peas. Crickets chirped from their hiding spots, seeking companionship.

“This is probably the nicest date I’ve ever been on,” Kailin said, leaning her head against his shoulder as they walked. “The second nicest was short. Halfway through dinner she said she really wasn’t that interested in me. At least it remained cordial.”

“I know what you mean,” he said. “None of that trivial talk about what kind of work you do or what music you like. Just conversation like two adults.”

“Thanks. But I’d be okay with a little trivia, as long as it’s not the same old tired shit.”

Amandi pulled her closer. “Do you know what my name means? In the original Igbo?”

“No idea.”

“It means, ‘trust no one.’ Hell of a name to give your kid, huh?”

“Did your mother know that when she named you?”

“She didn’t,” he said, “but when she found out she used that to lecture me over and over on being too trusting.”

Kailin chuckled. “My name doesn’t mean anything, or at least I don’t think it does. It was just something my mother heard and liked.”

“And that’s where you’re mistaken. I got into researching name meanings when I was still in primary school. The whole thing with my name meaning something so odd set me into a wormhole of discovery. Kailin comes from Kayla, which means ‘keeper of the keys.’”

“Wait, you just know every name off the top of your head?”

“No, just the names my classmates had. Kailin from primary school was a terror, though. Always in trouble, always picking fights. Nothing like you.”

“Seems like the name has a type. I got into some trouble in primary and secondary school. Well, at least I know it wasn’t me. You’re the first Amandi I’ve ever met.”

“I don’t know. You might be her. I was always too scared of her to introduce myself.”

Kailin laughed. “I don’t think I was that much trouble.”

#

Shoulder to shoulder they sat on the edge of the fountain, watching the bustle of the ground-floor mall around them. Their sweet pastries, half-eaten, sat on a plate beside them. Pink noise from the fountain lulled them into a quiet serenity.

Kailin took a deep breath and sat up straight. “Let’s go for a ride.”

“Where?”

“Have you ever been to a forest?”

“Nope. Four planets, two moons, half a dozen stations, but always in the city.”

“Let’s go.” She stood and tugged at his hand. “I’ve got a gate jumper; we can go sub-orbital and make it in twenty minutes.”

“I don’t know—”

“If you don’t like it, we can come right back.” She was vibrating with nervous energy. “Come on, let’s go.”

“Ah, why the hell not?”

Her small ship was closest to the entrance of the port. A six-passenger capable of breaking orbit, re-entry, and using gates to achieve faster-than-light travel. Although well-worn it was also well maintained.

Kailin had just finished disconnecting from ground power and clearing the docking clamps when a voice echoed through the hangar. “Police! Don’t move!”

“Again?” Kailin asked.

“What do you mean by that?” Amandi stood, scanning the hangar for movement. “I’m sure it’s not us.”

Kailin bent over and the voice boomed. “Kailin Marker! Don’t move!”

“Oh, you are the Kailin I remember from primary school.”

She stood, holding the pistol she’d taken from her ankle. She stepped behind Amandi and held the pistol to his neck. “Let me go, or I kill him!”

Police officers emerged from their hiding places behind the other ships. “Don’t do this, Kailin. Come with us peacefully and it’ll go better for you at trial.”

Ignoring their pleas, she backed into the ship, pulling Amandi along with her. As the door closed, he said, “You won’t make it off-planet.”

“I don’t have to. We’re going to the forest, just like I said.”

“Satellites will track the flight. They’ll know exactly where and when you land. And how long do you think you can hide out there?”

“As long as it takes.”

“You have all the power here. I’ll just sit down and let you do your thing.”

Kailin started the ship and began to lift off. Needing both hands to fly she stuck the pistol behind the small of her back. As she entered instructions into the console, Amandi grabbed her in a chokehold from behind and grabbed the pistol.

“Kailin, set the ship down and give up.” He flipped the safety off, and the pistol whined. “Maybe we should have started with the standard trivia. Police Sergeant Amandi Duru. You’re under arrest for kidnapping, threatening with a lethal weapon, and probably a weapons violation. Plus, whatever those guys want you for.”

Kailin landed and shut off the ship. “Shit. This date just dropped to second place.”